With all formalities in place, Aker Seafoods finally concluded the previously announced acquisition of the seafood company Viviers de France on 31 March. This strengthens Aker Seafoods further in the competition to deliver self-produced consumer packed fresh fish to the world’s largest food retail chains.
Today, Aker Seafoods is a main supplier of white fish to some of the world’s largest food retail chains in France. Holding 70 per cent of the shares in Viviers de France, Aker Seafoods has the opportunity to meet the increasing seafood demand from the markets in France and central Europe. Aker Seafoods will especially concentrate on consumer packed seafood products in France and the group will offer salmon and trout among other products, in addition to white fish.
France is an important and high price market for fresh fish of high quality. In 2007, France represented 28 per cent of Aker Seafoods’ sales. – We expect that we will increase our sales and strengthen our product portfolio in France. With the acquisition, we will continue to develop our fresh fish segment and thereby be able to offer new products to our customers in France, as well as meeting the increased demand, says Aker Seafoods CEO Yngve Myhre.
Last week, the two seafood companies met for Viviers de France’ annual general meeting and board meeting, where among other things, a new board was elected. Aker Seafoods’ executive vice president sales, Morten Hyldborg Jensen, was elected chairman of the board. The companies also developed strategies for future progress with main focus on development of new products. A name change for the holding company AquaFinance S.A. to Aker Seafoods France S.A. was also approved. The other group companies will keep its original company names.
